Wednesday, July 06, 2005

e are all concerned with image, are we not? And I like to come off as a teacher who is friendly, understanding, open, fair. But sometimes I wonder if I go too far to promote this image. I enjoy my students and I try to create a class atmosphere that is devoid of stress... as much as possible, that is. I mean, the subject is hard enough and stressful enough, so an atmosphere that is relaxed would be a plus, I think. This way, students don't fret coming to class and indeed it becomes a "destination", a place they look forward to...

Okay, maybe they don't look forward to class. Hahahhaha. But less stress is conducive to studying, so I encourage a fun class, one in which students know they are not being judged by me... Graded? Yes. But judged? No. But as I said, sometimes I think that maybe I go too far. Previously, I wrote of a student who folded up his quiz into a paper airplane and "handed it in" by tossing it to me! *sigh* Today, as I was joking and teasing in class, a student threw a pencil. A PENCIL! I mean, if it was a pencil that worked, then maybe I could live with that, but a broken mechanical pencil has as much values as... as... as a what? It's so useless, I can't even come up with an equivalent...

Anyway, another student who is also studying this summer wrote on her blog that she'd draw a picture of those who left a comment on her blog. So I did. This is what she left.

You know, I'm supposed to draw one of your interests, but you don't have any listed. So I resorted to drawing you with some things you've mentioned in class. XD

Hahahahaha. I guess it sorta looks like me, in that Edvard Munch kind of way. But the drawing is a bit obscure. I'd explain it but that would be too easy and no fun. So anyone wanna take a crack at deciphering it? I know, I too will "produce" a representation of the first subscriber who interprets the above drawing correctly--What am I saying? Why am I saying it? What are the elements next to me and below me? Like Ms. Naito, I will use my paint program to produce the image, so don't expect anything resembling a Rembrant. A Picasso, maybe--a BAD Picasso. Hahahahhaha. Hint: Naito-san is not Japanese, but she is a student of mine.

contributors

a living rice ball, male conceived in Japan born in the U.S. Fillings include any combination of narcissism, sarcasm, cynicism, and a whole lot of attitude. Approach with caution, befriend with an open mind. Sunglasses de rigueur
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the onigiriman philosophy

We are the sum total of our own individual experiences. As a result, everything we think, say, and interpret is tainted. While we may try to offer objective "facts", these facts are arranged and presented through the prism of our own experiences. As such every memory we recall, every event we interpret is our own subjective perspective of the truth.